Ratchet tool

Abstract

The tool includes a housing having two substantially semi-cylindrical members. An air motor in the housing has motor end members located adjacent each end thereof. Two O-rings, respectively disposed between the motor and the end members, are squeezable axially so as to be forced radially outwardly to abut the housing. A manifold includes a chamber of a size that dampens Helmholtz frequencies in the exhaust air. A bearing block includes an outer surface configured to transfer operating loads from a crank shaft extending through the bearing block to the housing. Each of the members of the housing has an arm with a cylindrical opening for receiving a rotatable drive body. The drive body has a knob including a shaft having an ear cooperating with an O-ring in the drive body for preventing the knob from inadvertently rotating between operating positions while the tool is in use. An O-ring between the knob and the drive body isolates the housing from shock to the knob resulting when the tool is dropped. A bushing disposed within the opening of one of the arms includes an outer surface having a plurality of serrations to provide a secure fit between the bushing and the arm. A washer and a retaining ring are located adjacent the bushing. A spring is located between the bushing and the retaining ring for biasing the drive body against the arm to provide friction between the drive body and the arm. An elastomeric jacket surrounds the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ratchet tool comprising: an elongated housing including first and second arms, each of said arms having a cylindrical opening with an axis, a drive body extending through said openings in said arms, a knob on said drive body, and means including an O-ring between said knob and said drive body spacing them apart axially for absorbing shock to said drive body. 
     
     
       2. The ratchet tool of claim 1, wherein said O-ring has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
       3. The ratchet tool of claim 1, wherein said knob includes an upper surface and a lower surface, said O-ring being disposed between and in contact with said lower surface and said drive body. 
     
     
       4. The ratchet tool of claim 3, wherein said knob includes a projection depending from said lower surface, said O-ring encircling said projection and abutting against at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
       5. The ratchet tool of claim 4, wherein said projection is part-cylindrical. 
     
     
       6. The ratchet tool of claim 1, wherein said opening of said first arm is defined by a cylindrical surface, said first arm including a shoulder extending radially inwardly from said surface, said drive body including a radially outwardly extending shoulder mating with said shoulder on said first arm, said O-ring abutting against said shoulder on said drive body. 
     
     
       7. A ratchet tool comprising: an elongated housing including first and second arms, each of said arms including a cylindrical opening defined by a cylindrical surface, a drive body extending through said openings in said arms, said drive body abutting said first and second arms, said drive body including an outer surface having a circumferential groove, a bushing in said opening of said first arm tightly engaging said cylindrical surface thereof, said bushing surrounding and abutting said drive body, a washer disposed against said bushing and surrounding said drive body, retaining means in said groove, and spring means between said washer and said retaining means, said spring means biasing said drive body against said first arm to provide friction between said drive body and said first arm. 
     
     
       8. The ratchet tool of claim 7, wherein said first arm includes a shoulder extending radially inwardly from said cylindrical surface thereof, said drive body including a shoulder extending radially outwardly from said outer surface thereof, said shoulder on said drive body mating with said shoulder on said first arm, said spring means biasing said shoulder on said drive body against said shoulder on said first arm. 
     
     
       9. The ratchet tool of claim 8, wherein said bushing includes a sleeve having inner and outer surfaces and a flange extending radially outwardly from said sleeve, said flange having an outer surface, said sleeve and said flange mating with said shoulder or said first arm, said outer surface of said flange tightly engaging said surface of said first arm and said inner surface of said sleeve abutting said outer surface of said drive body. 
     
     
       10. The ratchet tool of claim 9, wherein said first arm includes an outer surface, said shoulder on said first arm being offset from said cylindrical surface to define a pocket for said flange of said bushing and said washer and said spring means and said retaining means, said retaining means being generally flush with said outer surface of said first arm. 
     
     
       11. The ratchet tool of claim 7, wherein said retaining means is a ring. 
     
     
       12. The ratchet tool of claim 7, wherein said spring means is a disk spring. 
     
     
       13. A ratchet tool comprising: an elongated housing including first and second arms, each of said arms including a cylindrical opening defined by a cylindrical surface of said arms including a shoulder extending radially inwardly from said cylindrical surface thereof, a drive body extending through said openings in said arms, said drive body including an outer surface having a circumferential groove, said drive body including first and second shoulders extending radially outwardly from said outer surface thereof, said shoulders on said drive body respectively mating with said shoulders on said arms, a bushing in said opening of said second arm tightly engaging said cylindrical surface thereof, said bushing surrounding and abutting said drive body, said bushing having a flange portion disposed against the shoulder of said second arm, a washer disposed against said flange portion and surrounding said drive body, retaining means in said groove, and spring means between said washer and said retaining means, said spring means biasing said drive body and said flange portion against said shoulder on said second arm, and said arms being restrained from spreading by said first shoulder and said flange portion. 
     
     
       14. The ratchet tool of claim 13, wherein said bushing includes a sleeve having inner and outer surfaces and a flange extending radially outwardly from said sleeve, said flange having an outer surface, said sleeve and said flange mating with said shoulder on said first arm, said outer surface of said flange tightly engaging said cylindrical surface of said first arm and said inner surface of said sleeve abutting said outer surface of said drive body. 
     
     
       15. The ratchet tool of claim 14, wherein each of said first and second arms includes an outer surface, said shoulder on said first arm being offset from said cylindrical surface of said first arm to define a pocket for said flange of said bushing and said washer and said spring means and said retaining means, said retaining means being generally flush with said outer surface of said first arm. 
     
     
       16. The ratchet tool of claim 13, wherein said retaining means is a ring. 
     
     
       17. The ratchet tool of claim 13, wherein said spring means is a disk spring. 
     
     
       18. A ratchet tool comprising: a housing including elongated first and second members which are substantially semi-cylindrical, means attaching said members together, motor means in said housing, drive means at one end of said housing, means in said housing coupling said motor means to said drive means, and a jacket surrounding said housing, a longitudinally extending space being formed between said first and second members when said members are attached together, said jacket including an inner surface and a rib extending longitudinally along said inner surface, said rib being located in said space between said members when said jacket surrounds said housing to provide a secure fit. 
     
     
       19. A ratchet tool comprising an elongated housing including a semi-cylindrical base member and a semi-cylindrical cover member which mate together, means for attaching said members together, said members respectively having facing edges, means separating said facing edges to create a gap therebetween, a jacket tightly covering said housing and including a pair of interior ribs that are elongated and substantially parallel to each other and longitudinally extending, said ribs being respectively disposed in said gaps. 
     
     
       20. The ratchet tool of claim 19, wherein said jacket is stretched onto said housing. 
     
     
       21. The ratchet tool of claim 19, wherein said jacket is made of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       22. The ratchet tool of claim 19, wherein said housing has at one end thereof a recess extending around the outside of said members, said jacket having at the corresponding end thereof a projection extending around the inside thereof, said projection residing in said recess. 
     
     
       23. The ratchet tool of claim 22, wherein said jacket has a groove around the outside thereof aligned with said projection, and further comprising a generally C-shaped clip in said groove. 
     
     
       24. The ratchet tool of claim 23, wherein said groove and said recess and said clip are generally round in transverse cross section.